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Vulnerability record · public intelligence
CVE-2020-1166
HIGH

Windows Clipboard Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Published May 21, 2020 · Updated Nov 3, 2026

Severity · CVSSHIGH · Not scored
Known exploitationNot listed
EPSS / likelihood0.95%
QFinch risk scoreNot available

Original summary

Normalized public record · Updated Nov 3, 2026

Windows Clipboard Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Publisher and source text is retained separately from QFinch interpretation.

QFinch assessment

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Clipboard Service. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the security context of the local system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control over an affected system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows handles calls to Clipboard Service.

Evidence: public source records

Affected products

Affected scope reported by the available public evidence
Affected package, product or rangeFix status
Consult the referenced vendor advisory for affected versions.Consult source advisory

Matching a version is only one part of assessing exposure. QFinch has not assessed your environment on this public page.

Remediation

Apply the vendor-supported fixed release or mitigation, then verify the affected component is no longer reachable.

  1. Confirm the affected product and reachable code path exist in your environment.
  2. Apply the vendor-supported patch or mitigation from the primary advisory.
  3. Rescan the exact deployed revision and retain verification evidence.
Review primary references

Evidence coverage

FIRST-EPSSCVE-LIST-V5
SSVC priority
MEDIUM
Confidence
Not available
Aliases
None reported

Scores appear only when corresponding evidence exists. Missing data is never interpreted as zero risk.

Sources and record history

  1. Windows Clipboard Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability ↗
  2. portal.msrc.microsoft.com ↗

Record history

Published May 21, 2020 · Last refreshed Nov 3, 2026